Properly Framed 'All India Judicial Service' Important To Strengthen Justice Delivery System: Centre Tells Rajyasabha

The Union Law Minister today informed the Rajyasabha that the Government is engaged in a consultative process with the stakeholders to arrive at a common ground regarding the creation of an All India Judicial Services (AIJS) and that its creation is essential for a strong justice delivery system.

The Union Law Minister was responding to the query raised by MPs Bhaskar Rao Nekkanti, Prashantha Nanda and Shanta Chhetri seeking details regarding the progress made towards the creation of an All India Judicial Services.

To this, the Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju stated in a written submission that:

"In Government's view, a properly framed All India Judicial Service is important to strengthen overall justice delivery system. This will give an opportunity for induction of suitably qualified fresh legal talent selected through a proper all-India merit selection system as well as address the issue of social inclusion by enabling suitable representation to marginalized and deprived sections of society."

The response by the Union Law MinistER further disclosed that a comprehensive proposal was formulated for the constitution of an All India Judicial Service (AIJS) and the same was approved by the Committee of Secretaries in November 2012 and this proposal was included as an agenda item in the Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of the High Courts held in April, 2013 and it was decided that the issue needs further deliberation and consideration.

The Minister also informed the Rajysabha that there was divergence of opinion among the State Governments and among the High Courts on the constitution of All India Judicial Service

It has been further stated that the proposal of setting up of an All India Judicial Service was again discussed on points of eligibility, age, selection criteria, qualification, reservations etc. in a meeting chaired by the Minister of Law and Justice on 16th January, 2017 in the presence of Minister of State for Law and Justice, Attorney General of India, Solicitor General of India, Secretaries of Department of Justice, Legal Affairs and Legislative Department.

"Setting up AIJS was also deliberated in a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee in March, 2017 and the Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of SCs/STs on 22.02.2021," informs the response of the Law Minister.

Last year, Mr.G R Raghavender, Joint Secretary(National Mission For Justice Delivery and Legal Reforms), Ministry of Law & Justice, Government of India had said that the Central Government was keen to introduce All India Judicial Services if there is consensus within the judiciary.

It was also reported that the government was in the process of finalising a bill to establish an all-India judicial service to recruit officers for subordinate courts through an entrance test.

Read/Download the response of the Ministry Here